Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis embarked today on a two-stop tour. This will be the secretary's first trip to these locations during his tenure.

Secretary Mattis will begin his tour in Colorado Springs, Colorado where he will meet with senior NORAD/USNORTHCOM leadership, where topics of discussion will be protecting the homeland, ballistic missile defense and USNORTHCOM's role in assistance to natural disasters.

On Friday, Nov. 17, the secretary will travel to California to visit the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific (SPAWAR), provide remarks at the Navy Fleet Synch Conference, and attend a Marine Corps basic training graduation in San Diego.